Page 187 - British Inquiry into Loss of RMS Titanic Day 14 - 18

those figures? The Solicitor-General: We had intended to give your Lordship that information in one statement along with the other Board of Trade information. This witness may be able to tell your Lordship something about it. I cannot tell you in detail about it now. The Commissioner: I see what the Attorney-General’s information is from; it is from the description furnished by Ismay and Company or by the Oceanic Steamship Company on the construction of the ship. The Solicitor-General: Harland and Wolff. The Commissioner: Yes, Harland and Wolff, and I think the Attorney-General’s statement is almost taken verbatim from that statement. The Solicitor-General: I have no doubt of it. 19094. (The Commissioner.) I want to know from you, Mr. Sanderson, if you can tell me what are these American Rules with regard either to emigration or immigration - I understand it ought to be immigration. What are those rules? - Up to a short time ago the United States Government had passenger regulations which in some respects differed from those framed by the Board of Trade. Considerable confusion arose as a consequence, and the two Governments eventually got together and arrangements were made whereby the United States Government agreed to accept for the purpose of their passenger inspection the Regulations of the Board of Trade, so that in complying with the Board of Trade Regulations now for a passenger ship we automatically comply with the United States Regulations. 19095. First of all, do the Board of Trade Regulations deal with the question of boats? - Yes. 19096. Then am I to understand that the existing American arrangements or regulations are identical with our Board of Trade requirements? - I do not think I can say that, because they have regulations of their own. 19097. But are they identical so far as the question of boats is concerned? - I do not think I can say that, my Lord, because if we had to comply with those regulations, there would be possibly some differences, but in fact they have accepted the Board of Trade Regulations as being sufficient. They still maintain their own for countries with which they do not have this reciprocal arrangement. 19098. I think I understand you. So far as the “Titanic” was concerned it did comply with the American Government’s requirements in the matter of boats? - Yes, my Lord. The Commissioner: Do you think that is right, Mr. Solicitor? 19099. (The Solicitor-General.) I understand so, my Lord. You have seen the Passenger Certificate; for the moment I am only calling attention to the number of passengers and crew. Now that, my Lord, your Lordship will find when we call our Board of Trade evidence, is in its turn based upon a certificate given by a Board of Trade official in Belfast, Mr. Carruthers, and it is right, I think, that Mr. Sanderson should just have the substance of it put to him, because it shows how the ship comes to satisfy the Board of Trade. The certificate of Mr. Carruthers (I will just read it) is on the 2nd April, 1912. He says he completed the inspection of the steamship “Titanic.” He says that the hull and machinery were sufficient for the service intended, and in good condition. He says “that the boats and life-saving appliances, lights, signals, compasses, safety valves, and firehose are such and in such condition as are required by the Merchant Shipping Acts.” He says, “that the hull and machinery and equipments will in my judgment be sufficient until (b) 2nd April, 1913.” That is to say, they will for 12 months be sufficient. He says, “That the load to be placed on the safety valves should not exceed the pressure in pounds per square inch on page 4 of this form, and that the safety valves have been adjusted accordingly. That the vessel, as regards hull, machinery, and equipments, is in my judgment fit to ply as a foreign-going passenger steamer. That the vessel is in my judgment fit to carry the number of passengers stated on page 2 of this form,” and when one turns to page 2 of this form, one finds